Flexible Membrane Isolation for Robot Sprayer Cleaning Station
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning and filling stations for robots used in spraying coating products face issues with leakage and wear-out of sealing gaskets, which are not suitable for potentially explosive environments and are affected by chemical products used during cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning and/or filling station with mobile connection means featuring a flexible membrane that isolates the interior cabin volume from the feeding and control apparatus, reducing the risk of leakage and eliminating the need for worn-out sealing components by using a deformable membrane made of solvent-resistant materials like polytetrafluoroethylene.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sealing gasket is used to isolate the cabin interior from the feeding and control systems, then isolation is achieved, but the gasket wears out and becomes ineffective after hundreds or thousands of hours of use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional sealing gasket with a flexible membrane that forms a barrier between the cabin interior and the feeding/control systems. This membrane is specifically designed to be resistant to chemical products used during cleaning operations, thereby eliminating the wear and chemical degradation issues that plague conventional gaskets. The flexible nature of the membrane allows it to maintain sealing effectiveness throughout the operational life of the equipment.
2Ease of operation
If cleaning products are used to clean the cabin interior, then cleaning is achieved, but the products chemically attack the sealing gasket and shorten its functional life
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane is specifically engineered with chemical resistance to withstand exposure to cleaning products used in the cabin. Unlike conventional sealing gaskets that deteriorate when exposed to these chemicals, the membrane maintains its integrity and sealing properties, allowing regular cleaning operations without compromising the isolation barrier.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the robot is equipped with a sprayer and reservoir for coating product, then spraying function is achieved, but the time taken for cleaning and filling is relatively long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the feeding and control systems into a separate, isolated volume behind the membrane, allowing the sprayer and reservoir to be quickly connected and disconnected from the robot arm without requiring complex disconnection of control lines or feeding mechanisms. This separation enables rapid cleaning and refilling operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates a movable connection head that can dynamically position itself to connect with the sprayer assembly. This dynamic connection mechanism, combined with the membrane barrier, allows for quick attachment and detachment of the sprayer-reservoir unit, significantly reducing the time required for cleaning and refilling 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
The flexible membrane effectively isolates the cabin's interior from the feeding and control systems, reducing leakage risks and extending the station's operational life by preventing chemical attacks on sealing components, while maintaining functionality in hazardous environments.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible membrane makes it possible to isolate the interior volume of the cabin, in which the coating product is dispersed in the form of a cloud of droplets, relative to the internal volume of the station which includes the apparatus for feeding and control of the connection means
Implementation Method 2
this membrane is deformable and suitable for following the displacements of the moveable part between the retracted and active positions thereof
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning and/or filling station (10) of a subassembly for spraying a coating product mounted on a moving arm of a robot having a receiving zone (Z120) for receiving at least one sprayer belonging to the spraying subassembly and a connection device between at least one feed circuit and the sprayer in place in the receiving zone. The connection device has at least one part (131) movable between a retracted position, at a distance from the sprayer, and an active position, where the connection device enables the sprayer to be fed with cleaning product and/or coating product. The station has a flexible membrane (150) firmly attached, on the one hand, to the moveable part (131) and, on the other hand, to a fixed envelope (112) for protecting a portion of the connection device, while this membrane is deformable and suitable for following the displacements of the moveable part (131) between the retracted and active positions thereof.