Linear Motion Mechanism Bellows Integration

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing SCARA type robots with bellows-like members to cover gaps in the linear motion mechanism increase the weight and size of the operating shaft, necessitating a solution that maintains sufficient stroke without enlarging the mechanism.

Innovation Solution

A linear motion mechanism featuring an elongated shaft with a drive mechanism and a tubular protective cover that extends and contracts with the shaft's movement, eliminating the need for relay shafts and maintaining protection without increasing the mechanism's size.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If relay shafts are added to extend the operating shaft for bellows attachment, then the bellows can be properly attached to protect the shaft, but the weight and length of the operating shaft increase, enlarging the linear motion mechanism

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from moisture and dustVSAvoidweight of operating shaft

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The bellows is integrated directly with the operating shaft by forming an attachment portion at the end of the shaft itself, merging the protective function with the structural function of the shaft. This eliminates the need for separate relay shafts while maintaining protection against moisture and dust.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The bellows is nested directly onto the operating shaft's attachment portion, creating a compact nested structure. This allows the protective cover to be tightly integrated with the shaft without requiring additional extending components, thereby reducing overall weight and length.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If relay shafts are added to extend the operating shaft for bellows attachment, then the bellows can be properly attached to protect the shaft, but the length of the operating shaft increases, enlarging the linear motion mechanism

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from moisture and dustVSAvoidlength of operating shaft

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The bellows attachment portion is formed as an integral part of the operating shaft's end structure, merging the attachment function into the existing shaft design. This eliminates the need for additional relay shafts that would extend the overall length of the mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The bellows acts as a flexible protective shell that can be directly attached to the shaft's attachment portion. This flexible cover provides protection without requiring rigid extending structures, thereby maintaining a compact length while still protecting against moisture and dust.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the bellows is positioned to cover the opening and protruding shaft portion, then protection is ensured, but the mechanism size increases due to relay shafts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of shaft and spaceVSAvoidsize of linear motion mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The bellows attachment is merged with the operating shaft's end portion, eliminating the volume occupied by separate relay shafts. This integration maintains the protective function while reducing the overall volume of the linear motion mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The unnecessary relay shaft components are extracted from the design, leaving only the essential operating shaft with its integrated attachment portion. This extraction removes excess volume while preserving the protective bellows coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 configuration allows for a compact design that maintains protection of the shaft and space from moisture and dust while preventing size increase, ensuring reliable operation and tool positioning without altering the tool's attachment point.

Implementation Method 1

a tubular protective cover having two ends fixed to the housing and the end portion of the shaft, wherein the protective cover surrounds the opening and a portion of the shaft protruding outward from the opening, extends and contracts in the axis direction in accordance with movement of the shaft

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12257709B2Linear motion mechanism and horizontal articulated robot

Publication Date: 2025.03.25 FANUC LTD

AI summary

A linear motion mechanism is provided with a shaft extending along an axis, a drive mechanism which moves the shaft in the axis direction, a housing which accommodates the drive mechanism and which has an opening allowing one end portion of the shaft to project to the outside so as to be capable of moving backward and forward, and a tubular protective cover of which the two ends are fixed to the housing and the end portion of the shaft. The protective cover encloses the opening and the part of the shaft that projects outward from the opening, expands and contracts in the axis direction with movement of the shaft relative to the housing in the axis direction, and is fixed to the housing in a position in which a part of the drive mechanism including an end surface through which the shaft projects is disposed inside the protective cover.