Multi-Arm Substrate Transfer Robot with Elevating Mechanisms
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Solution Overview
Problem
The handling efficiency of existing substrate transfer robots in the LCD manufacturing industry is low, leading to increased costs and reduced usage life when trying to meet demand through additional robots or extended operation periods.
Innovation Solution
A substrate transfer robot design featuring multiple robotic arm groups with elevating mechanisms that allow simultaneous operation, enabling increased efficiency without the need for more robots or prolonged operation, which includes a column with multiple robotic arm groups and elevating mechanisms that drive the arms to move in the longitudinal direction, allowing for synchronized operation and improved substrate handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the number of substrate transfer robots is increased to meet production demand, then productivity is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple robotic arm groups (first robotic arm group and second robotic arm group) into a single integrated substrate transfer robot system. These arms work cooperatively under unified control to perform substrate transfer operations that would otherwise require multiple separate robots, thereby improving productivity without increasing the number of individual robot units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous substrate transfer operations by having multiple robotic arms work in parallel and coordinated fashion. While one arm is transferring a substrate, another arm can simultaneously prepare or position the next substrate, eliminating idle time and maintaining continuous productive action throughout the system.
2Productivity
If the working period of substrate transfer robot is extended to increase production output, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to excessive fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the workload among multiple robotic arm groups within a single robot system. Each arm group can be independently controlled and rotated based on operational needs, allowing for distributed task execution that reduces the cumulative fatigue on any single mechanical component while maintaining high overall productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic task allocation and rotation among multiple robotic arms. The system can dynamically switch between different arm groups based on operational requirements, allowing worn or fatigued components to rest while others continue working, thereby extending the overall system reliability and usage life.
3Productivity
If multiple robotic arm groups operate simultaneously, then handling efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a unified control system that manages multiple robotic arm groups, making the single robot system multi-functional. The same control module coordinates different arm groups for various substrate transfer tasks, eliminating the need for separate control systems for each arm and reducing overall device complexity despite the increased capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A substrate transfer robot includes a base, a column provided on the base, a number of robotic arm groups protruding from the column in different directions. Each of the number of robotic arm groups includes at least one robotic arm and elevating mechanisms. The elevating mechanisms correspond to the robotic arm groups one by one and are fixedly connected to the robotic arm groups. The number of robotic arm groups can be driven by the respective elevating mechanisms, to move in a longitudinal direction of the column respectively. The substrate transfer robot can improve the handling efficiency.