Machine Tool Robot Access via Rotary Axis Segmentation

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing machine tools lack a robot system that can access workpieces from various directions without interfering with other machine components, limiting their functionality and accessibility during machining operations.

Innovation Solution

A machine tool design featuring a rotary device that holds the workpiece in a rotatable manner, with one or more robots attached via a connecting mechanism, allowing the robots to move independently around the workpiece rotational axis, enabling access from multiple directions while preventing interference with other components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the robot is fixed on the spindle head to allow access during machining, then the robot can access the workpiece with the door closed, but the accessibility to the workpiece from various directions is inferior

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility during machiningVSAvoidaccessibility from various directions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The robot system is divided into multiple independent robots (first robot and second robot) positioned at different locations, each responsible for specific access directions. This segmentation allows the workpiece to be accessed from multiple directions simultaneously without requiring a single robot to have excessive degrees of freedom.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of increasing the movable range of a single robot in three-dimensional space, the solution adds another dimension by introducing multiple robots at different spatial positions. This allows access from various directions through spatial distribution rather than through increased articulation of a single robot.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the robot arm is elongated and degrees of freedom are increased to access workpiece from various directions, then accessibility is improved, but the robot size increases and interference with other members occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility from various directionsVSAvoidrobot size

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The robot system is divided into multiple independent robots (first robot and second robot) positioned at different locations, each responsible for specific access directions. This segmentation allows the workpiece to be accessed from multiple directions simultaneously without requiring a single robot to have excessive degrees of freedom.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of increasing the movable range of a single robot in three-dimensional space, the solution adds another dimension by introducing multiple robots at different spatial positions. This allows access from various directions through spatial distribution rather than through increased articulation of a single robot.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the door of the machining chamber is opened to allow robot access, then the robot can access the workpiece from various directions, but the robot cannot access the workpiece during machining when the door is closed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility from various directionsVSAvoidaccessibility during machining

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The robot system is divided into multiple independent robots (first robot and second robot) positioned at different locations, each responsible for specific access directions. This segmentation allows the workpiece to be accessed from multiple directions simultaneously without requiring a single robot to have excessive degrees of freedom.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of increasing the movable range of a single robot in three-dimensional space, the solution adds another dimension by introducing multiple robots at different spatial positions. This allows access from various directions through spatial distribution rather than through increased articulation of a single robot.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS10307877B2Machine tool

Publication Date: 2019.06.04 OKUMA CORP

AI summary

A machine tool that machines a workpiece by a tool includes a workpiece spindle device that holds the workpiece in a rotatable manner with a predefined workpiece rotational axis Rw as a center, one or more in-machine robots, and a connecting mechanism that attaches the one or more robots on the machine tool so that the one or more robots move independently from the workpiece, with the workpiece rotational axis Rw serving as a center.