Cylindrical Plate Mover Robot With Telescoping Arm
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current robotic systems for automated sample handling in laboratories are inefficient, require large spaces, and are costly, leading to reduced reliability and throughput when moving samples between areas.
Innovation Solution
A cylindrical plate mover robot with a telescoping arm that moves through the body of a base column, allowing for both rotational and vertical motion, and a gripper that can reorient objects, reducing the need for extensive rotation and minimizing the footprint of the system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional robotic systems use extensive rotation mechanisms to move samples between areas, then they can achieve flexible positioning, but the system footprint increases and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic arm transitions from planar rotation to three-dimensional movement by passing through the hollow core of the base column. This dimensional change allows the arm to reach positions on the opposite side without extensive rotation, reducing mechanical complexity and improving reliability while maintaining positioning flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic arm is nested within the hollow core of the base column during movement. The arm passes through the internal cavity of the column structure, allowing it to traverse from one side to the other without external rotation mechanisms, thereby reducing system footprint and improving reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional robotic systems increase the size of motion mechanisms to move samples, then they can achieve greater movement range, but costs increase and reliability reduces
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic arm is nested within the hollow core of the base column during movement. The arm passes through the internal cavity of the column structure, allowing it to traverse from one side to the other without external rotation mechanisms, thereby reducing system footprint and improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic arm transitions from planar rotation to three-dimensional movement by passing through the hollow core of the base column. This dimensional change allows the arm to reach positions on the opposite side without extensive rotation, reducing mechanical complexity and improving reliability while maintaining positioning flexibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If robotic systems perform extensive rotation to transfer samples, then they can achieve flexible sample delivery, but throughput decreases and time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic arm transitions from planar rotation to three-dimensional movement by passing through the hollow core of the base column. This dimensional change allows the arm to reach positions on the opposite side without extensive rotation, reducing mechanical complexity and improving reliability while maintaining positioning flexibility.
Data Source
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AI summary
An automation apparatus and method includes a first unit rotationally moving objects from one area to another, and a second unit connected to the first unit and holding the objects, moving through or offset from the body of the first unit from a first side of the first unit to the other side the first unit in a direction other than the rotational movement by the first unit. Moreover, the apparatus and method provides moving the objects through a vertical axis of the body of the first unit.