Machining Door Opening Control for Energy-Saving Robot Conveyance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional machining systems require significant energy to automatically open and close doors, resulting in poor energy saving performance.
Innovation Solution
A machining system where the door is controlled to position at specific openings to minimize energy consumption during robot conveyance operations, with the door opening area adjusted to the minimum necessary for conveyance, reducing energy usage and cycle time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the door is automatically opened and closed during robot conveyance, then the conveyance operation can be performed, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door opening area is dynamically adjusted based on the robot's position and conveyance requirements. The control unit determines the minimum necessary opening area at each timing, allowing the door to open only to the extent needed for robot passage, rather than opening fully. This dynamic adjustment reduces energy consumption while maintaining automatic operation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of door opening area from a fixed full-opening state to a variable state that matches the robot's conveyance needs. By controlling the door to open to specific angles or areas based on real-time requirements, the system optimizes energy consumption while preserving the convenience of automatic door operation
2Use of energy by moving object
If the door opening area is reduced to minimize energy consumption, then energy saving performance improves, but the robot conveyance may be restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors the robot's position, posture, and conveyance status to determine the appropriate door opening area at each timing. This feedback mechanism ensures that the door opens sufficiently for safe robot passage while minimizing the opening area to reduce energy consumption, dynamically balancing energy saving with conveyance capability
Solution Approach 2:
The door opening area is made dynamic and adaptive rather than fixed. The system adjusts the opening area in real-time based on the robot's actual conveyance needs, ensuring that the door provides adequate passage when needed while minimizing energy consumption during periods of reduced requirement, thus maintaining versatility without sacrificing energy efficiency
3Reliability
If the door opens fully to ensure safe robot passage, then conveyance safety is improved, but energy consumption and cycle time increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of opening the door fully (excessive action), the system opens the door only to the minimum necessary area required for safe robot passage (partial action). The control unit calculates the sufficient opening area based on robot position and size, providing just enough space for safe conveyance without the energy and time costs of full opening, thus resolving the contradiction between safety and cycle time
Data Source
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AI summary
A machining system includes: a cover body (131) having an opening (132) and defining a machining area (110) of a workpiece; a door portion (136) provided in the opening (132); an actuator (141) that operates the door portion (136) between a first position at which the opening (132) is closed and a second position at which the opening (132) is opened; a controller that controls the actuator (141); and a robot arm (212) that operates through the opening (132) to convey a workpiece between the machining area (110) and an external area outside the machining area (110). The controller controls the actuator (141) such that the door portion (136) is positioned at a third position when the robot arm (212) conveys the workpiece. An opening area of the opening (132) opened when the door portion (136) is positioned at the third position is smaller than an opening area of the opening (132) opened when the door portion (136) is positioned at the second position.