Mobile Robot Arm Painting Device with Umbilical Link Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Long paint and umbilical connections in painting installations for aircraft require powerful, energy-consuming pumps and result in significant paint loss and cleaning challenges during maintenance.
Innovation Solution
The painting device features a robotic arm with a mobile support system that reduces the length of umbilical connections by integrating equipment directly with the mobile support, facilitating fluid flow and enabling quick disconnection for efficient cleaning and tool changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the paint conduit and umbilical connection are made long to follow the robotic arm movements along the mast and cross member, then the robotic arm can cover a larger working area, but the flow of paint becomes difficult and requires more powerful, energy-intensive pumps
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into mobile segments (robotic arm with integrated paint supply) and stationary segments (fixed paint tank). The mobile support carries its own paint supply equipment, segmenting the paint delivery system so that paint is supplied locally rather than through long conduits, reducing pump energy requirements while maintaining full working area coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The paint supply system transitions from a two-dimensional planar layout (fixed tank to mobile arm along mast and cross member) to a three-dimensional mobile configuration where the paint supply moves with the robotic arm in space, eliminating the need for long horizontal paint conduits and reducing energy consumption
2Area of stationary object
If the paint conduit is made very long to follow robotic arm movements, then the robotic arm can operate over a larger area, but cleaning operations during paint change cause significant paint loss and consume significant cleaning products and time
Solution Approach 1:
The paint supply system is segmented into mobile units carried by the robotic arm rather than a single long fixed conduit. This allows the paint supply to be isolated in small, manageable containers that can be quickly replaced or cleaned without affecting long conduit sections, minimizing paint loss during paint changes
Solution Approach 2:
The paint supply is extracted from the stationary fixed tank system and placed on the mobile robotic support. This extraction allows the paint containers to be independently managed, removed, and replaced without cleaning long conduit sections, eliminating significant paint loss and reducing cleaning time and product consumption
3Adaptability or versatility
If long umbilical connections are used to connect equipment to the tool, then the robotic arm has greater movement freedom, but the fluid flow in the umbilical connection becomes difficult and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The paint supply equipment is merged with the mobile robotic support structure, combining previously separate functions (robotic arm movement and paint supply) into a single integrated mobile unit. This eliminates long umbilical connections for paint supply while maintaining full movement freedom, as the paint supply travels with the arm without requiring flexible hoses
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from horizontal umbilical connections extending from stationary equipment to vertical integration where paint supply is incorporated into the mobile robotic unit itself, changing the spatial relationship and eliminating the need for long flexible conduits, thereby reducing energy consumption while preserving movement freedom
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a painting device comprising at least one guidance system (32), at least one first movable support (34) configured to move along the guidance system (32), a robotic arm (36) attached to the first movable support (34), at least one first tool (38) connected to the free end (36.2) of the robotic arm (36), and at least one first piece of equipment (56) connected to the first tool (38) by at least one umbilical link (58), said first piece of equipment (56) being movable and connected to the first movable support (34). This configuration reduces the length of the umbilical link (58). The invention also relates to a painting installation comprising at least one such painting device.