Radiography Arm Cable Tension Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing radiography apparatuses face issues with cable loosening and excessive tension due to differences in winding perimeters between cables and tension members, which are complicated and costly to address, particularly when using conical pulleys with spiral wire guide grooves.
Innovation Solution
A radiography apparatus with an arm that includes a first reel for winding the cable and a second reel for winding the tension member, where the reels can rotate independently and are connected by a rotational force transmission member, allowing for a difference in their rotation amounts to adjust for perimeter differences and prevent excessive tension or loosening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single reel is used to wind both the cable and tension member, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to excessive tension or cable loosening caused by perimeter differences
Solution Approach 1:
The single reel is divided into two independent reels: a first reel for winding the cable and a second reel for winding the tension member. This segmentation allows each reel to be optimized for its specific function, with different rotational amounts to compensate for perimeter differences, thereby maintaining reliability while accepting increased device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotational amount of the first reel is set to be different from the rotational amount of the second reel. This parameter change compensates for the perimeter difference between the cable and tension member, preventing excessive tension or cable loosening during arm movement.
2Manufacturing precision
If conical pulleys with spiral wire guide grooves are used, then the manufacturing precision improves for tension management, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates due to complex and costly manufacturing processes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces expensive, complex conical pulleys with simpler cylindrical reels that have flat winding surfaces. These simpler reels are much easier and less costly to manufacture while achieving the same functional outcome through independent rotational control.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a single complex conical pulley, the system segments the winding function into two separate cylindrical reels. Each reel has a simple flat surface for winding, eliminating the need for complex conical geometry and spiral grooves, thereby significantly improving ease of manufacture.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the cable is made longer to accommodate full rotation range, then the adaptability improves, but the loss of substance increases due to cable loosening and wasted material
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the amount of cable and tension member wound on their respective reels during arm movement. The first reel winds/unwinds the cable and the second reel winds/unwinds the tension member with different rotational amounts, maintaining appropriate tension without requiring excessive cable length, thereby reducing material waste.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration effectively prevents excessive tension on the cable and loosening, simplifying the system by eliminating the need for complex conical pulley manufacturing, while maintaining effective tension management across varying diameters and winding conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a rotational force transmission member that, in a case in which one of the first reel and the second reel is rotated, transmits a rotational force in the same direction to the other
Implementation Method 2
the rotational force transmission member may be a spring that connects the first reel and the second reel and is expanded and contracted in a case in which the first reel and the second reel are rotated in opposite directions
Data Source
AI summary
A radiography apparatus includes: an arm that has a first end portion and a second end portion, one of which an irradiator is provided in and the other of which an image receiver is attachable to; a support portion that supports the arm to be orbitally rotatable; a cable that is provided from the first end portion of the arm to the support portion; a belt that is provided from the second end portion of the arm to the support portion; a first reel that winds the cable; a second reel that is provided to be independently rotatable with respect to the first reel and winds the belt; and a spring that biases the first reel in a winding direction of the cable, biases the second reel in a winding direction of the belt, and allows the occurrence of a difference between an amount of rotation of the first reel and an amount of rotation of the second reel.