Robot Arm Laser Beam Routing for High-Freedom Optical Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical processing and measurement apparatuses face challenges in achieving high degrees of freedom in handling due to limitations in the design of laser beam transmission systems and robot arm configurations.
Innovation Solution
The optical processing apparatus incorporates a robot arm with multiple rotatable sections and a beam transmission optical system with optical path changing sections that adjust the laser beam's direction based on the arm's rotations, allowing the laser beam to be transmitted along the lateral sides of the arm sections without the need for optical fibers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If optical fibers are used to transmit the laser beam along the robot arm, then the laser beam can be transmitted inside the arm structure, but the degree of freedom in handling is reduced and the system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spatial arrangement of the optical transmission system from an internal configuration (inside the robot arm) to an external configuration (along the lateral side of the robot arm). This dimensional repositioning allows the laser beam to be transmitted outside the arm structure, eliminating the need for optical fibers within the arm and thereby increasing the degree of freedom in handling while reducing system complexity.
2Reliability
If the laser beam transmission system is designed to follow the robot arm's movement, then the beam can be continuously transmitted to the processing head, but the system requires complex optical path changing mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces optical path changing sections as intermediary devices that mediate between the fixed laser source and the moving processing head. These sections actively adjust the beam direction based on the robot arm's position, ensuring continuous and reliable beam transmission without requiring the entire transmission system to be complexly coupled to the arm's movement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the optical path is positioned laterally to the robot arm sections, then the degree of freedom is enhanced, but the optical path length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic optical path changing section that actively adapts its beam direction in response to the robot arm's movements. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain a lateral optical path configuration for enhanced flexibility while compensating for increased path length through real-time directional control, ensuring the beam reaches the processing head efficiently regardless of arm position.
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 enhances the degree of freedom in handling the robot arm by allowing the laser beam to be transmitted efficiently along the lateral sides of the arm sections, regardless of their rotations, thereby increasing the apparatus's operational flexibility and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a first optical path changing section that changes a traveling direction of the laser beam so that the laser beam follows a first optical path lateral to the first arm section, based on rotation of the first arm section
Data Source
AI summary
An optical processing device (1) includes: a robot arm (10); and a beam-transmission optical system (30), wherein the robot arm (10) includes a first arm part (11), a first joint part (16), a second arm part (12), a second joint part (17), and a third arm part (13), and the beam-transmission optical system (30) includes a first optical-path changing part (31) that changes the traveling direction of a laser beam (BM) such that the laser beam (BM) travels along a first optical path (C1) beside the first arm part (11) in accordance with the rotation of the first arm part (11) performed by the first joint part (16), and a second optical-path changing part (41) that changes the traveling direction of the laser beam (BM) having passed through the first optical path (C1) such that the laser beam (BM) travels along a second optical path (C2) beside the second arm part (12) in accordance with the rotation of the second arm part (12) and the rotation of the third arm part (13) performed by the second joint part (17).