Handling Robot Positioning for Combined Painting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surface treatment and coating processes for vehicle bodies require multiple painting areas and robots due to limited movement space for multi-axis robots, leading to increased costs and complexity, as handling robots restrict the movement of multi-axis robots and necessitate separate interior and exterior painting stations.
Innovation Solution
A positioning device that allows handling robots to transition between active and rest positions, minimizing space occupation and enabling a single combined interior/exterior painting area by relocating handling robots out of the way of multi-axis robots, allowing them to move freely and use the same robots for both interior and exterior painting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If handling robots are positioned in the immediate vicinity of vehicle body openings to perform opening/closing operations, then the handling function is effective, but the freedom of movement of multi-axis robots is restricted due to space occupation
Solution Approach 1:
The handling robot is equipped with a positioning device that enables it to dynamically change its position between an active position (in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle body opening) and a rest position (retracted). This dynamic repositioning allows the handling robot to be effective when needed while minimizing space occupation during painting operations, thus resolving the contradiction between handling effectiveness and multi-axis robot mobility.
2Manufacturing precision
If two separate painting areas (interior and exterior) are provided with multiple multi-axis robots each carrying coating units, then complete painting coverage is achieved, but the number of robots and connections to supply lines increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the interior and exterior painting operations into a single painting area by enabling the handling robot to retract to a rest position that does not obstruct multi-axis robot movement. This allows one multi-axis robot carrying a coating unit to perform both interior and exterior painting tasks sequentially, eliminating the need for separate painting stations and reducing the total number of robots and supply line connections while maintaining complete painting coverage.
3Manufacturing precision
If a two-stage treatment process is used with separate interior and exterior painting stations, then all surfaces can be treated, but cycle time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning device is designed to rapidly reposition the handling robot from the active position to the rest position between painting stages. This preliminary repositioning action enables seamless transition from interior to exterior painting within the same painting area, eliminating the need for vehicle body conveyance between separate stations and reducing overall cycle time while maintaining complete surface treatment.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a positioning apparatus (10-13) for a handling robot (120), wherein the positioning apparatus is designed to keep the handling robot in an idle position in a first state of the positioning apparatus and to keep the handling robot in an active position in a second state, wherein, in the idle position, the handling robot (120) is arranged below an object (2) to be handled. The invention further relates to a device for handling objects, comprising a conveying apparatus (14) for moving the objects (2) to be handled and a positioning apparatus (10-13) according to the invention.