Clean Room Robot Dust Collection via Open Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clean room single-axis robots face challenges in managing dust production due to friction in drive units, leading to scattered dust particles and increased maintenance costs, which affect the cleanliness of the clean room and the robot's efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A clean room single-axis robot equipped with a dust collection system having an open structure, where the dust collection system minimizes external space exposure and is designed to suction, collect, and discharge dust, even when produced within the robot, by spacing the front cover and drive unit apart to reduce friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a metal cover including a magnet is added to prevent dust leakage, then dust containment is improved, but the cover deforms due to friction with the drive unit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the metal cover that was causing friction and deformation, and instead extracts the dust collection function into a separate dust collection box positioned away from the drive unit. This separates the dust containment function from the components experiencing friction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dust collection box as an intermediary component that collects dust from the drive unit area without being in direct contact with moving parts. The dust collection box serves as a mediator between the dust-generating drive unit and the external environment.
2Productivity
If the single-axis robot operates for a long time, then productivity is improved, but dust accumulates from friction in the drive unit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary dust collection by positioning the dust collection box to proactively capture dust particles before they can scatter into the clean room environment. The open structure allows continuous dust extraction during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful friction between drive components into a beneficial dust collection opportunity by designing the dust collection box with an open structure that specifically targets the area where friction-generated dust is produced, transforming a污染源 into a collectible source.
3Ease of operation
If multiple open spaces are provided in the side surfaces, then ease of operation is improved, but dust scatters to the air and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the robot structure into distinct zones: open side surfaces for accessibility and a separate dust collection box for dust management. This segmentation allows each zone to fulfill its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The dust collection box acts as an intermediary that captures dust before it can reach the open side surfaces, allowing the robot to maintain accessible open structures without suffering from dust scattering into the surrounding environment.
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 implementation of the open-structured dust collection system effectively manages dust within the clean room and the robot, reducing maintenance costs and improving production efficiency, stability, and yield while allowing for easy replacement and maintenance of the dust collection system.
Implementation Method 1
a dust collection system 260 configured to suction air contained in the horizontal profile 210, collect dust contained in the air, and discharge the air
Implementation Method 2
a drive belt 240 elongated in forward and backward directions along the inside of the horizontal profile 210 and to be moved in the forward and backward directions by driving force of a motor
Data Source
AI summary
A clean room single-axis robot in which a dust collection system is used includes a transfer unit installed inside a clean room to transfer an assembly part in the forward/backward direction and an elevating unit installed on one side of the transfer unit to transfer an assembly part in the upward/downward direction. The transfer unit includes a horizontal profile, first covers, a first guide unit, a driving belt, a plurality of rollers, and a forward/backward movement unit. A dust collection system of the transfer unit has an open structure, and is configured to suction the air accommodated inside the horizontal profile, collect dust contained in the air, and then discharge the air.