Coil Packaging System With Dual Robotic Arms

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coil packaging systems for wrapping coils of steel strip are large, heavy, and costly due to their complex design and requirement for sensing systems to coordinate robotic arms, making them difficult to implement and operate efficiently.

Innovation Solution

A compact coil packaging system with two robotic arms, each movable along specific horizontal axes, allowing for the transfer of wrapping material without the need for complex coordination systems, and adjustable to accommodate various coil sizes and shapes, using existing technology to simplify and reduce costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a traditional coil packaging system with large robotic arms and sensing systems is used, then the wrapping function is achieved, but the system becomes large, heavy, and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewrapping functionVSAvoidsystem weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the wrapping function into two separate robotic arms, each responsible for one end of the coil. This segmentation allows each arm to be smaller and lighter while collectively achieving the complete wrapping function, resolving the contradiction between reliability and system weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The robotic arms travel around both ends of the coil in opposite directions, utilizing the spatial dimension around the coil rather than requiring large horizontal movement space. This dimensional approach allows compact system design while maintaining wrapping reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Manufacturing precision

If large devices and sensing systems are used for coordinating robotic arms, then the wrapping coordination is accurate, but the system complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoordination accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The two robotic arms are designed to travel in opposite directions around the coil ends, creating an asymmetric but coordinated motion pattern. This asymmetric design simplifies the coordination logic compared to symmetric systems, reducing device complexity while maintaining wrapping precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the coil's own rotation to naturally coordinate the wrapping process. As the coil rotates on variable-speed rollers, it automatically presents different sections to the robotic arms, eliminating the need for complex sensing and coordination systems to track coil position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If the robotic arms are movable along multiple axes with sensing systems, then the adaptability to different coil sizes is improved, but the system size and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoil size adaptabilityVSAvoidsystem area
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs variable-speed coil rollers that can dynamically adjust rotation speed to accommodate different coil sizes and wrapping requirements. This dynamic adjustment capability provides adaptability without requiring large mechanical movement ranges, reducing the system's stationary area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The robotic arms are designed with universal gripping mechanisms that can handle wrapping material of different heights and coil configurations. The arms can grip the wrapping material at different positions and adapt to various coil diameters, providing versatility without increasing system footprint.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3303149B1Coil packaging system and process
Publication Date: 2020.10.14 LAMIFLEX
  • EP3303149B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3303149B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3303149B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a coil packaging system (100). The system comprises a first robot arm (110) having a grappling portion (112) adapted to grip a wrapping material (114), a second robot arm (120) having a grappling portion (122) adapted to grip the wrapping material (114), and a coil rotating means (140) adapted to carry and rotate a coil (150) about a coil axis. The first robot arm (110) is movable along a first horizontal axis (A1) which, in an operating position, coincides with the coil axis, while the second robot arm (120) is movable along a second horizontal axis (A2), the second horizontal axis (A2) being parallel to the first horizontal axis (A1), and along a third horizontal axis (A3), the third horizontal axis (A3) being perpendicular to the second horizontal axis (A2).