Motion Automaton Setup Using Guided Safe Motion Paths

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Solution Overview

Problem

Automatic movement machines often exceed safety-relevant speed limits or working ranges during setup, posing risks to nearby personnel due to their dynamic nature and lack of controlled movement guidance.

Innovation Solution

A method involving coupling a movable element of the movement machine to a multi-part guide robot, exerting force to guide it along a predetermined course, and decoupling it from its drive device to prevent unintended movement, using a guide device like a SCARA robot to record setup data and ensure the element moves within defined speed and acceleration profiles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the motion automaton is operated during setup, then the setup process can be completed, but the machine may exceed safety-relevant speed limits and working ranges

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesetup processVSAvoidsafety risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A guide device is introduced as an intermediary between the operator and the motion automaton during setup. The guide device physically guides the motion automaton along predetermined safe paths, ensuring that speed limits and working ranges are not exceeded while still allowing the setup process to be completed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Predetermined motion paths are established before the setup process begins. These pre-planned paths ensure that the motion automaton will only move within safe parameters, preventing exceedance of speed limits and working ranges before any harmful movements can occur

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the movable element is coupled to the drive device during setup, then the motion automaton can be controlled, but unintended movements and loss of control may occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement controlVSAvoidcontrol stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling between the movable element and drive device is made dynamic rather than static. The movable element can be selectively coupled to and decoupled from the drive device depending on the setup phase, allowing controlled movement when needed while preventing unintended movements when the drive device should not be active

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If the movable element is actively driven during setup, then positioning can be achieved, but energy consumption increases and control becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The drive device operates periodically rather than continuously during setup. The movable element is actively driven only when positioning is required, then decoupled and allowed to move passively under gravity or external forces, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining positioning accuracy when needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3428754B1Method for setting up a kinetic device and setup assembly
Publication Date: 2023.02.15 SIEMENS AG
  • EP3428754B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for setting up a motion automaton (2), comprising at least the steps of: a) coupling a movable element (3) of the motion automaton (2) with a movable guide element (7) of a guide device (6); b) exerting force on the movable element (3) by the movable guide element (7) by operating the guide device (6), whereby the movable element (3) is guided along a predetermined motion sequence (9) by means of the guide element (7); c) acquiring a setup data set (11) characterizing the motion sequence (9) and thereby setting up the motion automaton (2). A second aspect of the invention relates to a setup arrangement (1).