Vehicle Coating Robot Posture Control for Pressure Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle body coating robots face challenges in maintaining the pressure of coating material within the coating head at an appropriate range due to changes in the posture of the multi-axis arm, which complicates pressure control in the supply and return flow paths.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle body coating robot with a multi-axis arm that includes a posture control mechanism to maintain the relative position of the coating head and supply device constant, featuring a circulation path with detection and pressure control means to stabilize the pressure of coating material flowing through the supply and return paths, and a moving mechanism to adjust the arm's position along the coating direction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the multi-axis arm posture is allowed to change freely to coat different positions on the vehicle body, then the coating coverage and flexibility are improved, but the pressure of coating material inside the coating head becomes difficult to maintain within an appropriate range

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoating position flexibilityVSAvoidcoating material pressure stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the arm posture to maintain the supply device at a constant height relative to the coating head throughout the coating process. The posture control means actively modifies arm positions in real-time to compensate for height changes, ensuring stable pressure conditions while still allowing flexible coating of different vehicle body positions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses detection means to monitor the actual height positions of both the supply device and coating head, then feeds this information back to the posture control means. Based on this feedback, the control system calculates and executes posture adjustments to maintain the relative height difference within an allowable range, ensuring consistent coating material pressure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If the supply device is installed in one of the arm members, then the coating material supply is integrated with the arm structure, but the pressure control becomes complex when the arm posture changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegration of supply deviceVSAvoidpressure control difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Rather than fixing the supply device in a rigid position on the arm, the system allows dynamic adjustment of the arm posture to maintain optimal supply conditions. The posture control means actively manages the relative positions of the supply device and coating head, transforming a static integration problem into a dynamic control solution that maintains pressure stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The posture control means acts as an intermediary between the arm movement and the pressure control system. It processes the relationship between arm position changes and pressure variations, mediating the interaction to maintain stable coating material pressure despite the integrated supply device configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This configuration effectively maintains the pressure of coating material within the coating head at an appropriate range by minimizing posture changes of the multi-axis arm, simplifying pressure control and ensuring stable coating material circulation.

Implementation Method 1

a supply device (51) that has a circulation path (57, 58) for circulating the coating material between a reservoir (55) storing the coating material and the coating head (56), and that is capable of controlling a pressure of coating material flowing through the circulation path

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure control:

Implementation Method 2

a first detection means (69) for detecting the pressure of coating material fed to the supply path (57), and a second detection means (79) for detecting the pressure of coating material drawn into the return flow path (58)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure detection:

Implementation Method 3

a pressure control means (103) for controlling a dispensing amount of coating material by the dispensing means (62) based on the detection result by the first detection means (69) and for controlling a drawing amount of coating material by the retracting means (80) based on the detection result by the second detection means (79)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure feedback control: Feedback

Implementation Method 4

the multi-axis arm has a posture control means (102) that controls the posture of the multiple arm members (22, 23) constituting the said multi-axis arm during coating of the vehicle body FR by the coating head (56) to maintain the relative position of the coating head (56) and the supply device (51) at a constant level or to suppress fluctuations in the relative position within a predetermined allowable range

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPosition stabilization:

Data Source

PatentEP4252920A1Robot for coating a vehicle body
Publication Date: 2023.10.04 ABB (SCHWEIZ) AG
  • EP4252920A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4252920A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4252920A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention aims to maintain not only the pressure of coating material flowing along the supply path and return flow path of coating material supply device, but also the pressure of coating material present inside the coating head within an appropriate pressure range by suppressing changes in the posture of the multi-axis arm as much as possible. Therefore, a robot for coating a vehicle body is provided. The robot for coating the vehicle body of this invention comprises a coating head, a reservoir for storing coating material, a supply device capable of controlling the pressure of coating material flowing through a circulation path provided between the coating head and the reservoir, and an arm having a coating head and a supply device; the said arm is a multi-axis arm having multiple arm members and a movable shaft connecting each arm member to each other, and the multi-axis arm has a posture control means that controls the posture of the multiple arm members during coating of the vehicle body by the coating head to maintain the relative position of the coating head and the supply device at a constant level or to suppress fluctuations in the relative position within a predetermined allowable range, and a moving mechanism for moving the multi-axis arm along a coating direction of the coating head during coating of the vehicle body by the coating head.