Elastic Body Securing Line Items in Robot Gaps
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for securing line-shaped items to industrial robots require a base member and clamp, which complicate the process and increase machining costs due to the need for attachment faces in narrow internal spaces, and do not effectively prevent friction between items and the robot's rough casting surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A method involving an elastic body that is disposed around line-shaped items, compressed to fit into a gap, and then expanded to secure the items by friction, eliminating the need for a base member and clamp, and utilizing heat-resistant materials to prevent degradation from robot-generated heat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a base member and clamp member are used to secure line-shaped items, then the securing structure is stable, but the device complexity and machining costs increase due to the need for attachment faces in narrow internal spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the base member and clamp member from the securing structure, retaining only the essential elastic body that performs the securing function. This simplifies the overall structure while maintaining the core securing capability through the elastic body's compression and expansion mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic body serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the securing force through its elastic properties, acts as its own mounting mechanism by expanding within the narrow space to secure itself, and eliminates the need for separate base and clamp members. This self-service approach reduces device complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If a base member and clamp member are used to secure line-shaped items, then the securing structure is stable, but the machining costs increase due to the need for attachment faces in narrow internal spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the base member and clamp member that would require complex machining in narrow internal spaces, leaving only the elastic body which can be installed without requiring machined attachment surfaces, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic body is a simple, inexpensive component that can be easily manufactured and replaced if needed, eliminating the need for expensive machined base and clamp members. This approach prioritizes cost-effective, simple components over complex, expensive ones.
3Reliability
If line-shaped items are wired inside the robot arm or turnable body, then the items are secured, but friction occurs between the items and the rough casting surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic body acts as an intermediary between the line-shaped items and the rough casting surface of the robot arm. By providing a smooth, compliant interface, it prevents direct contact between the items and the rough surface, thereby eliminating friction while maintaining secure positioning through elastic compression.
4Ease of operation
If the elastic body is compressed to fit into a narrow gap, then the line-shaped items can be inserted, but the elastic body must be released from compression to expand and secure the items
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic body is pre-compressed to a size smaller than the target gap before insertion. This preliminary compression action enables easy insertion into the narrow space, and the subsequent automatic expansion upon release provides immediate securing without requiring additional time-consuming operations.
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 method simplifies the securing process, reduces machining costs, and effectively prevents line-shaped items from moving by generating sufficient friction within the robot's components, while maintaining attachment even in high-temperature environments.
Implementation Method 1
an expanding step of releasing the elastic body from compression, with the line-shaped items inserted into the gap in the line-shaped-item inserting step, thereby expanding the elastic body
Implementation Method 2
it is necessary to prevent friction of the line-shaped items on the inner surface
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a line-shaped-item securing method including an elastic-body disposing step of disposing an elastic body so as to surround the periphery of one or more line-shaped items; a compressing step of compressing the elastic body, disposed around the periphery of the line-shaped items in the elastic-body disposing step, in a direction perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the line-shaped items to dimensions smaller than a gap in a robot, through which the line-shaped items are to be passed; a line-shaped-item inserting step of inserting a portion of the line-shaped items, surrounded by the elastic body compressed in the compressing step, into the gap; and an expanding step of releasing the elastic body from compression, with the line-shaped items inserted into the gap in the line-shaped-item inserting step, thereby expanding the elastic body.