Lattice-Configured Panel Fixtures with Automated Rod Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for new types of ceiling and wall fixtures that offer innovative designs and efficient manufacturing methods to create lattice-configured panel fixtures with varying rod lengths and angles, providing structural integrity and ease of installation.
Innovation Solution
The development of lattice-configured panel fixtures made from rods of different lengths, arranged in a three-dimensional lattice configuration with acute and obtuse angles, and an automated manufacturing system using robot arms and computerized control for precise assembly and attachment of support brackets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If rods of different lengths are arranged in a three-dimensional lattice configuration with acute and obtuse angles, then aesthetic appeal and structural integrity are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lattice panel is segmented into multiple individual rods of different lengths that can be manufactured separately and then assembled. This allows each rod to be produced using standard manufacturing processes, while the complex lattice configuration is achieved through modular assembly rather than monolithic fabrication.
Solution Approach 2:
A robotic assembly system acts as an intermediary between the individual rod components and the final lattice structure. The robot precisely positions and joins rods according to the predetermined lattice pattern, resolving the complexity of assembling multiple rods at acute and obtuse angles by automating the positioning and joining processes.
2Manufacturing precision
If an automated manufacturing system with robot arms and computerized control is used, then manufacturing precision and productivity are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic assembly system is programmed with the complete lattice configuration data, allowing it to autonomously position and join rods according to the predetermined design. The system serves itself by using computerized control to guide the robotic arms through the assembly process without requiring manual intervention for each positioning decision.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical assembly operations are replaced with an automated robotic system controlled by computer instructions. This substitution enables precise control of rod positioning and joining operations while reducing labor requirements and improving consistency, despite the increased complexity of the automated system itself.
3Area of stationary object
If high open area ratios are achieved through lattice configuration, then aesthetic appeal and light transmission are improved, but structural strength may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The lattice structure implements local quality by concentrating material only where structurally necessary - at the joints where rods connect and along the perimeter. The interior consists of open spaces with minimal rod material, achieving high open area ratios while maintaining structural integrity at critical locations through localized reinforcement at connection points.
Solution Approach 2:
The lattice configuration transitions from a two-dimensional planar arrangement to a three-dimensional structure with vertical components. This dimensional change allows the structure to gain structural strength through spatial distribution and geometric configuration, while maintaining high open area ratios in the horizontal plane for aesthetic and light transmission purposes.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides lattice-configured panel fixtures that include a plurality of rods joined together in a predetermined pattern, articles for supporting the panel fixtures from a support structure, and automated systems and methods for manufacturing the panel fixtures.