Lockable Workpiece Support with External Robot Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing workpiece support systems for vehicle welding are complex and difficult to transfer between manufacturing steps due to the need for a driving source for movable supports, limiting their versatility and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A workpiece support system featuring a support body with lockable, movable supports that can be unlocked and positioned by a separate robot, eliminating the need for a driving source on the support device, allowing for simplified structure and easier transfer between manufacturing steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a movable support with driving source is adopted to support multiple workpiece types, then versatility is improved, but device complexity increases and transferability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the driving source (robot) from the workpiece support device and positions it separately outside the device. The support body retains only the locking mechanism and movable support structure, while the robot performs the moving function externally. This separation eliminates the complexity of mounting driving sources on each support device while maintaining the ability to move supports for different workpiece types.
Solution Approach 2:
A single robot unit serves multiple workpiece support devices across different manufacturing steps. The robot can unlock and move supports on various support bodies, making the driving function universal rather than device-specific. This multi-functionality achieves versatility without requiring each device to have its own driving source.
2Ease of operation
If a movable support with driving source is adopted, then support position adjustability is improved, but ease of transfer between manufacturing steps deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The driving source is extracted from the support device structure, leaving a simplified support body that can be easily transferred between manufacturing steps. The robot, positioned externally, provides the moving capability without being integrated into the support device, thus maintaining transferability while preserving position adjustability.
3Reliability
If a lockable movable support is used, then workpiece support stability is improved, but device complexity increases due to locking mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a robot as an intermediary that operates the locking mechanism remotely. The robot grasps the support body and performs the unlocking/locking actions, reducing the complexity of manual operation while maintaining the stability provided by the lockable support. The locking mechanism itself remains simple, but its operation is mediated by the external robot.
Data Source
AI summary
A workpiece support system includes: a workpiece support device that supports a workpiece by a support body having a support that comes in contact with the workpiece; and a robot that is separately provided outside the workpiece support device and moves the support, wherein the support is configured to be movable within a predetermined range and lockable at an arbitrary position, and wherein, by grasping a part of the locked support body, the robot unlocks the support and moves the unlocked support according to the shape of the workpiece.