Ring Trailing Stop for Industrial Robot Joint Overrun Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial robots require a compact and space-efficient mechanical stop device to limit the rotational adjustment angle of joints, ensuring precise control and preventing overrotation, while existing solutions often require additional components and compromise on design robustness.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical stop device featuring a ring body with an annular groove and driver mechanism, where the ring body is rotatably mounted inside a housing component, allowing for controlled joint stoppage and incorporating an overrun protection system that can extend the rotational adjustment angle up to ±320°, with optional buffer elements and an integrated adjustment sensor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a mechanical stop device is designed to limit rotational movement of a joint, then the joint's maximum rotation angle is controlled, but the device requires additional components that increase space occupation within the housing
Solution Approach 1:
The trailing stop is nested within the housing component by inserting the ring body into an annular groove formed in the inner wall of the housing. This nesting arrangement allows the stop device to be integrated within the existing housing volume without requiring additional external space, thereby resolving the contradiction between achieving precise rotation angle control and minimizing space occupation
Solution Approach 2:
The ring body serves multiple functions: it acts as the trailing stop that limits rotation, provides a mounting structure for the driver, and integrates with the housing through the annular groove. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing overall device volume while maintaining effective rotation angle control
2Stability of the object's composition
If a trailing stop is designed to be guided smoothly over its sliding surface, then the stop does not tilt, but the stop must have a certain width that increases space requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The ring body is designed with a circular cross-section that fits into the annular groove, allowing it to rotate smoothly while maintaining alignment. The curved geometry of the ring body and groove interface provides stable guidance without requiring a wide linear structure, thereby achieving stability with minimal width
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of guiding the trailing stop through a wide linear sliding surface, the invention uses a circular groove that guides the ring body through rotation in a different dimensional approach. This allows the stop to be guided smoothly through the circumferential path of the groove rather than requiring a wide radial dimension
3Volume of moving object
If a mechanical stop device is integrated entirely within a housing component, then the design is space-saving, but the housing's interfering contour must be altered
Solution Approach 1:
The stop device is nested within the existing housing component by utilizing the annular groove that is formed in the inner wall. This nesting approach allows the housing contour to remain unchanged from the outside, while the stop mechanism is integrated inside, thereby achieving space-saving integration without altering the external housing shape
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an industrial robot (1) comprising a robot arm (2) having several links (12) connected by joints (11), at least two adjacent links (12) being connected by a joint (11) designed as a rotary joint, adjustable by means of a drive and limited in its maximum rotation angle by a mechanical stop device (13), which comprises a stop projection (16) connected to one (12.1) of the two adjacent links (12.1, 12.2), a driver (17) connected to the other (12.2) of the two adjacent links (12.1, 12.2) and a trailing stop (18) adjustable by the driver (17), which has a trailing stop body (18.1) and a ring body (18.2) connected to the trailing stop body (18.1), which engages in an annular groove (19) in an inner wall (20) of a housing component (9, 10) of one (12.1) of the two adjacent links (12.1, 12.2) is rotatably inserted.