Dual-Carriage Tool Assembly With Linear Actuation for Flexible Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing carriage guide rail systems in production lines require multiple manufacturing robots to handle complex assembly tasks, leading to high costs and limited flexibility due to unidirectional carriage movement.
Innovation Solution
A tool assembly is attached to two carriages of a carriage guide rail system, featuring a base and a linear actuator that allows relative movement between the carriages, enabling actions such as rotational and translational motions to assist manufacturing or assembly processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple manufacturing robots are used to handle complex assembly tasks, then the productivity and manufacturing capability are improved, but the cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The tool assembly is designed to perform multiple functions (holding, positioning, actuating tools) that would traditionally require separate robots, allowing a single carriage to replace multiple robots and reduce system complexity while maintaining manufacturing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines the base, linear actuator, and tool assembly into a single integrated unit that can be mounted on a carriage, merging functions that would otherwise require multiple separate robotic systems
2Reliability
If carriages are designed with unidirectional movement to reduce design cost and increase design stability, then the reliability and ease of manufacture are improved, but the adaptability and versatility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The linear actuator provides dynamic adjustment capability within the unidirectional carriage movement framework, allowing the tool assembly to adapt its position and orientation dynamically while maintaining the simple unidirectional carriage design
Solution Approach 2:
The tool assembly with linear actuator is nested on the carriage, allowing the inner actuator mechanism to provide additional degrees of freedom while the outer carriage maintains its simple unidirectional movement for reliability
3Productivity
If the number of carriages is increased to handle complex products with more components, then the productivity is improved, but the cost and loss of substance increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each carriage is equipped with a versatile tool assembly that can handle multiple assembly operations and tool types, allowing fewer carriages to perform the work of many specialized carriages, reducing the total number of carriages needed
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 tool assembly enhances the capability of production lines to handle complex tasks with fewer robots by providing versatile mechanical actions, reducing costs and increasing design stability.
Implementation Method 1
a linear actuator movable relative to the base; the linear actuator comprises a second connector for attaching to the other one of the two carriages
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A tool assembly for attaching to two carriages of a carriage guide rail system; wherein the two carriages are movable along the carriage guide rail relative to one another, the tool assembly comprising: a base and a linear actuator movable relative to the base; wherein the base comprises a first connector for attaching to one of the two carriages; wherein the linear actuator comprises a second connector for attaching to the other one of the two carriages; wherein the base comprises a first base portion attaching to the first connector; wherein the first base portion is arranged between at least a part of the linear actuator and the two connectors in a direction perpendicular to the carriage guide rail.